MicroRNA expression profiling of human islets from individuals with and without Type 2 diabetes: promises and pitfalls

Recent studies in mouse, involving the β-cell-specific deletion of Dicer1, have highlighted the crucial role of miRNAs (microRNAs) in regulating insulin secretion and consequently Type 2 diabetes. Identifying the individual miRNAs involved in human islet dysfunction may be of diagnostic and therapeutic interest. miRNA expression profiling of human islets isolated from donors with and without Type 2 diabetes may represent one of the first steps in the discovery of these specific miRNAs. The present review discusses some of the potential pitfalls and promises of such an approach.